Parachute escape for airships



May 3, 1927.

' 1,626,796 G. H. DRABENSTOTT PARACHUTE ESCAPE FOR AIRSHIPS Filed Oct. 6, 1926 Patented May 3,- 1927.

UNITED STATES GLENN H. DRABENSTOTT, OF WOOSTER, OHIO.

PARACHUTE ESCAPE FOR AIRSHIPS.

Application filed October 6, 1926. Serial No. 139,909.

My invention relates to parachute escapes for air service, and its principal object is to provide a safe and practical means for escaping from an air-ship or other flying machine 5 in flight, in case of accident or fall of such machine, without personal injury to the aeronaut or loss of baggage by reason thereof. It consists mainly in the novel arrangement of a detachable basket seated in the body of the air-ship, adapted to be lifted and separated from such seat by means of a suitable parachute at the pleasure of the pilot or driver, and novel means for confining and for releasing the parachute,'and

for regulating its descent while carrying the basket and its contents to the earth after detachment from said body-all as hereinafter fully set forth and stated in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate like parts. Referring thereto, Fig. 1 is a side view of an ordinary air-plane, showing the seat and basket and folded up parachute in section, Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the parachute basket and cage in section, part of the body being cut away for better illustration of the seat and basket, enlarged. Fig. 3is a detail plan view of the cage bottom which supports the parachute in confinement, and the mechanism for releasing the parachute and basket, is also shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a view of an ordinary parachute inflated and in operative position over Fig. 1 illustrating also its relation to the removable basket and cage from which it has been released.

' In the drawings, A is the body, and A the seat for parachute basket B in the upper central portlon of the body of the air-plane, the bottom of the basket being conformed to the hollow seat A so as to rest securely thereon, and be easily removable therefrom when released from the catch G which se cures the basket to the seat A by a latch h. A plurality of posts 0, a, extend upwardly from the basket B to which they are solidly attached, and these posts support the circular plerforated floor above the basket on whic the parachute P is laid in folds within a removab e cover D and is secured by a cable H to the central cap 0'. The parachute enclosure D is preferably of hollow formation, and constructed in two parts (I, d, opposite each other of flexible material,

and so articulated with the margin C as to fold apart from each other and thereby completely uncover the folded parachute, and release it from confinement within the cage D. The release is accomplished at-pleasure of the driver by means of the opposite levers b, b, in operative engagement with the meeting ribs m, n, and rods 8, s. The said levers b, b, are pivotally connected with the margin C in opposite ears 7, f, and extend outwardly therefrom so as to engage opposite rods e, e, which are respectively connected with a double acting lever E which is pivotally secured to the pilot seat F in the basket B, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of the lever E, is adapted to engage the latch b so as to release the basket B simultaneously with the opening of the cage D. Other means may be employed for covering and uncovering the cage, and for releasing the basket from the air-ship body, and by foot pedal, or otherwise, as may be preferred, and my claims are not limited to mere details of construction, as various modifications may be made within the reasonable scope of my invention. It is apparent that upon the accidental fall of the air-ship, the driver may immediately release the parachute and then the basket B from its seat A, the parachute will then automatically be inflated, and thereupon will lift by the cable H the basket and its contents free from the air-ship,and slowly carry them to earth. An air valve p, at the top of the parachute may regulate its motion by the cable is, in the usual wellv known way.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I .c aim is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the body ofan airship; a basket seat in said body, a parachute basket fitted to rest removable in said seat, means for detachably securing said basket in said seat, a frame above said basket, a perforated disk on said frame, a removable cover archedfolded within said cover, and attached to said disk by a cable, and means for opening said cover to release the parachute, substantially as setforth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination'with a basket seat within an air-ship body, a parachute basket detachably secured in said seat, a cage for the parachute above the basket folda 1e therein, and

over said disk, a parachute means for releasing the parachute and basket from the air-ship, substantially asset forth.

3. In combination with the body of an air- 5 ship, a frame above said body, a perforated disk mounted on said frame, a removable cover above said disk, a parachute foldable within said cover and disk and attached to the frame by .a cable, and means for opening the cover above the parachute. H 10 In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of January, A. D. 1926.

G. H. DRABENSTOTT. 

